WWE TLC 2012: Losing to John Cena Would Derail Dolph Ziggler's Career

In one week’s time, we may finally reach the end of one of the most unpopular recent storylines.

Dolph Ziggler will be putting his Money in the Bank briefcase on the line against John Cena at TLC 2012.

If Ziggler were to lose this match, it would ruin the momentum he has going right now.

Ziggler has become a featured superstar on both Raw and SmackDown this year, won the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank and was the sole survivor of his match last month at Survivor Series.

After losing to John Cena on Raw recently, Ziggler cannot afford to lose again. This time he would be losing more than just the match.

By losing his Money in the Bank briefcase, Ziggler loses his guarantee to become the next World Heavyweight Champion.

According to reports, Dolph Ziggler is expected to be a main event superstar in the upcoming New Year, making a win against John Cena vital to his career.

The same report indicated that Ziggler would be cashing in his briefcase by the end of the year.

If you recall, at last year’s TLC event, Daniel Bryan cashed in his World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank briefcase on Big Show after a chairs match involving Mark Henry.

Could history repeat itself?

Well, first Ziggler needs to take care of John Cena, the poster boy of WWE.

John Cena has been a main event superstar and the face of the company throughout the entire PG era.

What does it say if Ziggler, who WWE would like to push as an essential part of the future, loses to the face of the company?

Think about superstars like the Miz, Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio.

I hope you know where I am going with this. What do they all have in common?

They were all World Champions because of Money in the Bank, and then what happened?

They all lost to main event stars in John Cena, Rey Mysterio and CM Punk.

What happened after they lost their championships to these stars? Miz and Swagger took an express train to jobbersville, while Del Rio has been stuck in character and storyline limbo.

As you can see, a loss would be very bad for Ziggler’s career. So what does beating Cena say about Ziggler and his future in WWE?

What should Seth Guttenplan's nickname be?

G-U-Double TThe Baker (my family owns a bakery)The BeardsmanGuttenatorFussy GuttSM GuttNone of the Above (Please put your idea in the comment section)Submit Votevote to see results

What should Seth Guttenplan's nickname be?

G-U-Double T

20.2%

The Baker (my family owns a bakery)

10.4%

The Beardsman

8.5%

Guttenator

10.3%

Fussy Gutt

10.3%

SM Gutt

10.1%

None of the Above (Please put your idea in the comment section)

30.3%

Total votes: 565

Winning shows that WWE has invested in Ziggler and not given up. Cody Rhodes was another favorite to win the Money in the Bank briefcase, but instead he lost the Intercontinental Championship and was put into a tag team with Damien Sandow.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Team Rhodes Scholars are future WWE Tag Team Champions. However, there is a huge difference between winning Money in the Bank and winning tag team gold.

Money in the Bank is a guaranteed path to the main event scene. As Dolph Ziggler has been in main event after main event on Raw, SmackDown and even Main Event as well, he cannot lose at TLC.

Beating John Cena and retaining his Money in the Bank briefcase would prove Dolph Ziggler will be an integral part of WWE in 2013. A loss, on the other hand, would certainly derail Ziggler’s career and make him just another superstar WWE has dropped the ball on.

For those of you who have been following my path here on Bleacher Report, you may be aware that I get a lot of criticism for my current nickname—the G-U-Double T!

Therefore, I am holding a competition for a new nickname. You can participate in the search/competition in two ways. One way is to vote for one of the suggested nicknames in the poll. The other way is to simply send your suggestion to me through my bulletin board or tweet it to me @sethgutt.